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March 2006: After an absence of five years, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) fleet of aircraft are returning to Oxford Airport. BAS who are based at Cambridge, have been taking the de Havilland Dash-7 and the four Dash-6 Twin Otters to Canada for the last few years each summer for their maintenance support. After a competitive tender for the technical support of these aircraft held last year, Oxford Airport’s sister company, CSE Aviation won the contract to look after these hardworking and invaluable aircraft whose winters are spent supporting British research operations in Antarctica. From March to September, the fleet will spend the summers at Oxford where major maintenance and modifications will be undertaken. Thereafter, CSE is expected to have a team support the fleet in the winter months down in Antarctica. Suitably qualified volunteers are always welcomed!
One of the newest hangars being built at Oxford will be used to house the Dash-7, whilst several additional technicians and engineers have been employed to fulfil the requirements to support these aircraft. The fleet join another UK government research organisation’s aircraft, the Natural Environment Research Council’s Dornier 228 which is also based at Oxford.
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